Losing Hope

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Hey,” I say, attempting to control the trembling anger in my voice when I hear her crying on the other end. “I’m on my way, Les. It’ll be okay, I’m on my way.” Despite the first tiny part was a little slow for me, the rest definitely made up for it. If you had any questions about Les and Holder’s relationship, Losing Hope answers that. Sky and Holder are initially drawn together by lust and a mutual fascination with one another, but Holder’s mood swings and mixed signals soon begin to confuse Sky. As the skeletons begin to come out of each of their closets, both the past and present become much clearer for this young couple.

She’s stronger than I give her credit for, though. She didn’t attempt to call him last night and she’s made no attempt to call him today. She didn’t get much sleep last night, so she went to her room before lunch to nap. However, I’ve been pausing outside her bedroom door throughout the day just to make sure I couldn’t hear her on the phone, so I know she hasn’t made any attempts to call him. At least while I’ve been home. In fact, I’m pretty sure the heartless phone call from him last night was exactly what she needed to finally see him for who he really is. She’s flat-out rude to me and I love it. She’s stubborn and I love it. She’s a smartass and she’s sarcastic and every witty thing that comes out of her mouth is like music to my ears because that’s exactly what I want. She’s what I need and I don’t want her to change at all. There’s not a single thing about her I would change.”I deserve to be reminded every second that I’m alive that I let both of you down, so that I can be conscious not to let myself ever do this again to anyone else.” Merry, Stephanie (January 20, 2022). "On TikTok, crying is encouraged. Colleen Hoover's books get the job done". The Washington Post . Retrieved February 11, 2022.

Initial reaction: Honestly, I'm feeling rather gutted and not in a constructive way with "Losing Hope". Holder's account, noted against Sky's, does retread a lot of ground in the story to the point of where in places it feels repetitive (much like Jamie McGuire's "Walking Disaster" did with Travis being in the primary seat versus Abby.). I hated that you did it anyway, knowing you wouldn’t be the only one who died. I was so mad because you let me die, too. I had problems with how Holder preoccupied himself over both Hope and Les to the point that's all his character really encompassed. When Sky comes into the picture, apart from the bargaining he does over her identity, it doesn't provide much that's new. Some of the conversations are verbatim except for supplementing his thoughts during those scenes, but not given enough weight or dimension to see significance there. It's nothing that those who have already read the first novel don't know apart from a few exceptions. The narrative isn't as intimate character-wise as Sky's account (and oddly, Holder still feels like he's telling his grief in many points here instead of coming to terms with it gradually. He sounds a little more like he's 18 here, but it's still hard to find focus with.) It's the same way with him telling of his love for Sky - I don't feel it, I'm informed of it, many times. Mostly telling, not showing.We are there with him every painful step of the way and afforded a truly different version through Holders voice. And what a beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking, yet at times very witty and fabulous story this is. Hold onto your hearts in this one folks because it will be shattered. Hearing Holder express the depth of sorrow that has consumed him broke my heart. Plus of course, we really get to see how Holder felt about Sky from the moment he saw her and his developing feelings towards her. Swoon! I mean really, I'm 34 years old but their story still gets to me. My apprehension sprung from my doubt. Do I need more from Hopeless? Do I even want more from Hopeless? The personalities of these two characters and the thoughts they possess are so vastly different; hearing them tell accounts of the same events is gripping. In Hopeless Sky told her side of the story, but this time, in Losing Hope we get Holder's sode of the emotional journey...